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Oklahoma City VA sees surgeon shortage following departures

Posted: 10:37 AM, Nov 12, 2018

Updated:2018-11-12 16:37:53Z

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The unexpected departure of two Oklahoma City VA Medical Center employees left the facility without a general surgeon on call or available for overnight emergencies for a number of days this month.

The Oklahoman
reports that the hospital's chief of surgery, Paul Munden, informed staff and administrators in an email on Oct. 31 that his team was down to a single full-time surgeon. One surgeon left because of unspecified personal reasons, while the other departed because of a completed visa process.

Hospital Director Wade Vlosich says the facility still performs general surgery, but lacks a provider to cover all evening hours.

Vlosich says a new surgeon starts Tuesday and another will start Nov. 25. He says the surgeon shortage is "a fairly common thing" and is "a mini blip."